Lubricating seal for shotgun shells



'Sept. 3, 1963 c. c. COOK LUBRICATING'SEAL FOR SHOTGUN SHELLS Filed April 18. 1960 IN VEN TOR.

K. H g C 4 W M m 3,102,478 LUBRKCATING SEAL FOR SHOTGUN SI'ELLS Carl C. Cook, Mesa, Aria, assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, to Arthur 3. Brow, In, Mesa, Ariz. Filed Apr. 18, 1960, Ser. No. 23,088 2 Claims. (Cl. 102-42) This invention pertains to shotgun shells and is particularly directed to improvements in a lubricating seal arrangement for shotgun and other similar shells, cartridges and ammunition.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a novel arrangement of the essential elements of a shotgun shell and the like so as to effect greatly improved efficiency and performance of the ammunition. 7

Another object is to provide an improved seal for a shotgun shell utilizing a hydraulic principle for decreasing recoil starting friction and improve lubrication of the gun barrel to reduce friction on the elements fired through the gun bore.

Another object of this invention is to provide higher velocity for the shot fired from the gun.

It is also an object to provide an improved shell structure which eliminates deforming and abrading of the shot and in leading up the gun barrel bore surfaces in firing the gun.

Still another object is to provide a shotgun shell structure which reduces the gun barrel temperature making possible rapid fire without the many ill effects of overheatmg.

And a further object is to provide a shotgun shell construction which provides an improved pattern for the projected shot.

Further features and advantages of this invention will appear from a detailed description of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a shotgun shell incorporating the features of this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the assembled cartridge.

As an example of one embodiment of this invention there is shown a cartridge or shotgun shell indicated generally at it} comprising the usual base member 11 having the flange 12 and the primer cavity 13 in which is placed the usual percussion composition 14 to be struck by the anvil 15, the vent 16 being provided to set off the powder charge 17 contained in the rear end of the bore 20 of the cartridge case 18 secured to the cylindrical portion 19 of the base 11.

The loading and arrangement of the cartridge shell is characterized by the placement of a lubricating disk 21 of fusible tallow, wax or similar material having its rear face 22 in direct contact with the powder charge 17 and its front face 23 in abutting contact with the rear face 24 of the wad 25. The peripheral surfaces 21a and 25a respectively of the lubricating disk 21 and the wad 25 are in sliding contact with the bore 2d of the cartridge.

In front of the front face 26 is provided the usual charge of shot (or other projectile) 27 and the end of the shotgun shell is closed by the usual releasable plug 28. The lubricating disk 21 is preferably composed of materials having good qualities of sealing and lubrication and should have a melting temperature above the extreme ambient temperatures normally to be encountered in the field such, for example, approximately 150 F.

The material of the lubricating disk is so constituted that it melts instantaneously on the firing of the powder charge and forms a lubricating seal between the periphery 25a and the wad 25 and the bore 20* of the cartridge case 18 to initially break the starting friction between the wad 25 and the bore 2t and then to lubricate the wad as it ddfizfi'ld Patented Sept. 3, 1963 slides out of the bore 20 and through the gun barrel bore. By placing the lubricating disk between the powder 17 and the wad 25, the previous shot leaves the gun barrel bore thoroughly lubricated so that the next shot finds the bore well lubricated for the frictionless passage of the shot '27 out through the gun without distorting or abrading the shot 27. Thus, with true spherical shape being maintained for the shot, a precision concentrated pattern of shot travel results. Also, the wad 25 has a prelubricated bore to travel to thus reduce recoil and reduce heat in the barrel, with greater velocity being obtained.

While the apparatus herein disclosed and described constitutes a preferred form of the invention, it is also to be understood that the apparatus is capable of mechanical alteration without departing from the spirit of the invention and that such mechanical arrangement and commercial adaptation as fall within the scope of the appendant claims are intended to be included herein. Having thus fully set forth and described this invention what is claimed and desired to be obtained by United States Letters Patent is:

I claim:

. 1. A cartridge for a gun having a bore and a firing pin comprising in combination:

(a) a base member,

(b) a flange on the rear end of said base member,

(0) a primer cavity in the rear face of said base memher,

(:1) a percussion composition in said cavity,

(e) an anvil over the rearward opening of said cavity adapted to confine said percussion composition in said cavity and to ignite said percussion composition when said anvil is struck by the firing pin of said (1) a cartridge shell having a bore fixed to the forward portion of said base member and having a peripheral cylindrical portion adapted to fit in the gun bore,

(g) a vent in the bottom of said primer cavity communicating with the rear portion of the bore in said cartridge shell,

(h) a powder charge in the rear portion of said cartridge shell and exposed to the discharge of said percussion composition through said vent,

(i) a fusible tallow lubricating disc having its rear face in direct abutting contact with the front face of said powder charge and its peripheral diameter surface in contact with said bore of said cartridge shell,

(j) a wad having its rear face in abutting contact with the front face of said lubricating disc and its peripheral diameter surface in sliding contact with said bore of said cartridge shell,

(k) a charge of shot in said cartridge shell bore adjacent the front face of said wad,

(l) and a releasable plug adjacent the front end of said charge of shot adapted to be releasably axially confined by the front end of said cartridge shell so as to confine said powder charge, lubricating disc, wad, powder charge and releasable plug in said cartridge shell until fired.

2. A cartridge for a gun having a bore and a firing pin comprising in combination:

(a) a base member,

(b) a flange on the rear end of said base member, 1(3c) a primer cavity in the rear face of said base memer, (d) a percussion composition in said cavity,

(e) an anvil over the rearward opening of said cavity adapted to confine said percussion composition in said cavity and to ignite said percussion composition when said anvil is struck by the firing pin of said gun,

(f) a cartridge shell having a bore fixed to the forward portion of said base member and having a pcr J? ripheral cylindrical portion adapted to fit in the gun bore, a

(g) a vent in the bottom of said primer cavity communicating with the rear portion of the bore in said cartridge shell,

(h) a powder charge in the rear portion of said cartridge shell and exposed to the discharge of said percussion composition through said vent,

(i) a fusible lubricating disc having a melting temperature above the extreme ambient temperatures arranged in direct abutting contact with the front face ofrsaid powdercharge and its peripheral diameter surface in contact with said lbore of said cartridge shell,

7 V (j) a wad having its rear face in abutting contact with the front face of said lubricating disc andits peripheral diameter surface in sliding contact with said bore of said cartridge shell,

(k) a charge of shot in said cartridge shell bore adjacent the front face of said wad,

(l) and a releasable plug adjacent the front end of said charge of shot adapted to be releasably axially confined by the front end of said cartridge shell so as to confine said powder charge, lubricating disc, wad,

powder charge and releasable plug in said cartridge shell until fired,

(m) said lubricating disc being so constituted that it melts instantly on the firing of said powder charge to form a lubricating seal by blowing by the space between said peripheral diameter surface of said Wad and said bore of said cartridge shell so as to initially break the starting friction between said wad and said cartridge shell bore and then to lubricate said wad as it slides out of the bore of said gun barrel to thereby leave said gun barrel bore lubricated for the next shot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A CARTRIDGE FOR A GUN HAVING A BORE AND A FIRING PIN COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A BASE MEMBER, (B) A FLANGE ON THE REAR END OF SAID BASE MEMBER, (C) A PRIMER CAVITY IN THE REAR FACE OF SAID BASE MEMBER, (D) A PERCUSSION COMPOSITION IN SAID CAVITY, (E) AN ANVIL OVER THE REARWARD OPENING OF SAID CAVITY ADAPTED TO CONFINE SAID PERCUSSION COMPOSITION IN SAID CAVITY AND TO IGNITE SAID PERCUSSION COMPOSITION WHEN SAID ANVIL IS STRUCK BY THE FIRING PIN OF SAID GUN, (F) A CARTRIDGE SHELL HAVING A BORE FIXED TO THE FORWARD PORTION OF SAID BASE MEMBER AND HAVING A PERIPHERAL CYLINDRICAL PORTION ADAPTED TO FIT IN THE GUN BORE, (G) A VENT IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID PRIMER CAVITY COMMUNICATING WITH THE REAR PORTION OF THE BORE IN SAID CARTRIDGE SHELL, 